The story of the Night Elves from World of Warcraft continues in Dragonflight. It is time for new sacrifices – and they may not please everyone.
Many details of the story of the upcoming expansion Dragonflight are still uncertain. However, data miners are already busy scouring the game data of World of Warcraft for hints and details. Now a significant piece of the Night Elf story has been revealed, covering important characters like Tyrande, Malfurion, and Ysera. They must make a fateful decision…
Spoiler warning: This article discusses important details of the Dragonflight story. If you do not want to read spoilers, you should not continue here.
What is the status of the Night Elves? With the end of Shadowlands, the Night Elves received a new seed from the Winter Queen, which (presumably) will be used for a new World Tree. At the same time, Tyrande’s hunt for Sylvanas has ended, the green dragon Ysera exists as an awakened wild spirit in the Ardenweald, and Malfurion is still traveling on Azeroth.
A sacrifice for the green dragons: During Dragonflight, a fateful decision is made by the Night Elves. The green dragonflight apparently needs help and is reliant on the return of Ysera – but she is trapped in the Shadowlands. Already in Patch 9.2.5, it was said that Ysera might one day return to Azeroth, but that will require “a great price.” Now this price is known:
Malfurion Stormrage.
For Ysera to return to Azeroth, Malfurion must take her place in the Ardenweald. At least this is indicated by a dialogue that likely belongs to an in-game cutscene.
We have translated the relevant dialogue between the two here for you:
Tyrande: Ysera, your flight needs you.
We need you.
Whatever the price for your return to Azeroth is, name it.Malfurion: Tyrande …
Tyrande: Tell us!
Malfurion: I am.
I am the one who must stay behind.Tyrande: What?
Malfurion: Ysera knows this – but she would never ask me to.
Tyrande: No.
We will find another way.Malfurion: When she gave her life for me in Val’sharah, her time had not yet come.
And now … the balance must be restored.Tyrande: Then … then I will stay as well.
Shandris and the others can …Malfurion: Tyrande …
If everything we hope for happens, then the Kaldorei will need you.Tyrande: I am so tired, Malfurion.
Do not ask that of me.
After all we have endured …Malfurion: My love.
You have always been the strength of our people.
They will follow you forever, and you will never be alone.Tyrande: Until we meet again …
I will dream of the night when we can finally rest … together.
Why is this happening? Malfurion is, like Tyrande as a Night Warrior, one of the most powerful beings on Azeroth. Although this has been mainly shown in stories (such as the “War of Thorns” and books), the Archdruid Malfurion is so powerful that the Horde as a whole fears him.
At the same time, there are also slight reasons to find why Malfurion is a candidate for this “exchange.” For one, it is true that Ysera was only corrupted by the Nightmare because Malfurion rushed in blind rage in Val’sharah. At the same time, however, Ysera has also been a mentor to Malfurion for a long time, as they have spent many years together in the Emerald Dream.
It is also important that the dialogue does not clearly indicate whether Malfurion actually dies or lives. It is quite possible that he stays as a mortal in the Ardenweald and, in his position as Archdruid, ensures that the forest regenerates alongside the Winter Queen. After all, a large part of the Ardenweald has died due to the Anima drought and needs to be cultivated anew.
Finally, this decision may also simply have narrative reasons. By sidelining a few current, very powerful characters, it creates more room for new characters who can come to the forefront – like Shandris in recent expansions.
However, keep in mind that this is merely datamining from the alpha. On the one hand, much could still change before the release, and on the other hand, important context is missing, such as from previous quest lines, which explains how this decision and sacrifice come about. It is easy to criticize something when you only know the outcome but not the path to it.
Assuming this story decision is final – what do you think about it? A good way to set Malfurion aside?
